Ontinued investment to close the gap statement by
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- 2013–14 Budget initiatives to Close the Gap in Housing
- Aboriginal Hostels Limited
- National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness
- Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program
- National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing
- Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory—Housing
- Torres Strait Major Infrastructure Program (MIP) Stage 5
- Indigenous Home Ownership program
- Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory—Funding for Homelands and Outstations
- Remote Indigenous Energy Program
Healthy HomesEnsuring Indigenous people can live in safe, properly constructed and well-maintained homes is an important part of reducing Indigenous disadvantage. Decent housing is critical for protecting children and improving health, education and employment outcomes. Improving the quality of housing is also critical to building Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory. More than 5300 homes in remote Indigenous communities have been refurbished or rebuilt by the Australian Government under the $5.5 billion National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing—nearly two years ahead of schedule. The Government is also on track to meet its ambitious target of constructing 4200 new homes by 2018, having already built more than 1600. 2013–14 Budget initiatives to Close the Gap in HousingMunicipal and Essential Services programThe Australian Government is providing $44.1 million to continue to support the delivery of municipal and essential services for Indigenous people in about 340 remote communities. This funding injection in the 2013–14 Budget will supplement investments by state and local governments in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria to deliver basic services to remote communities, including power, water and sewerage services, garbage collection and disposal, and road maintenance. Essential services, including reliable power, functioning water and sewerage systems and safe accessible roads, are critical to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous families living in remote communities. While the provision of municipal services is generally the responsibility of state and local governments, the Australian Government is making this additional investment in remote communities to ensure Indigenous families do not miss out. This delivery of municipal and essential services also provides significant employment opportunities for local Indigenous people, supporting around 200 jobs across these communities. The $44.1 million funding boost is in addition to the Australian Government’s $206 million investment over 10 years to support the delivery of essential and municipal services for outstations and homelands in the Northern Territory, as part of the Stronger Futures package. The Australian Government will continue to work with state and territory governments on progressing long-term reform in the delivery of municipal and essential services to remote communities. Access to efficient and reliable essential services is critical to the Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap, with services such as reliable power and functioning water supporting healthy homes and underpinning opportunities for economic development. Aboriginal Hostels LimitedAboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL) provides safe, comfortable, culturally appropriate and affordable temporary accommodation for Indigenous people. Through this measure the Government is providing AHL with $6.2 million over two years to undertake capital upgrades to nine of its hostels, commencing in 2013–14. Eight of the hostels are located in the Northern Territory, with the other located in Queensland. AHL hostels allow Indigenous people to access a range of services such as education, healthcare, legal advice, training and employment. 2013–14 Budget initiatives to Close the Gap in Housing (continued) National Partnership Agreement on HomelessnessUnder the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH), the Australian Government, together with the states and territories, has committed $1.1 million since 2008 to provide new and better integrated accommodation and support services for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including Indigenous Australians. Indigenous-specific initiatives delivered under the NPAH include Aboriginal advocacy and tenancy support services, assisting Aboriginal young people leaving care, legal assistance for Indigenous women and assertive outreach for individuals and families experiencing rough sleeping. On 28 March 2013, Commonwealth, state and territory housing ministers recognised the importance of putting in place appropriate transitional arrangements to afford time to finalise a longer-term agreement which ministers recognise as critical to tackling homelessness. The transitional arrangement will see the Australian, state and territory governments contribute almost $320 million to tackle homelessness in 2013–14, to continue to provide funding to critical homelessness initiatives including programs targeted to Indigenous Australians.
The construction element focuses on constructing or upgrading infrastructure such as housing, water, sewerage and electrical services, as well as improving access to primary health care facilities by improving roads and airfields. The health component focuses on enhancing existing community health services by providing complementary medical, dental, and veterinary programs. The training aspect provides courses focused on developing specific skills required within the community, linked to potential employment opportunities. The AACAP 2013 project will be delivered in Fregon, South Australia, and the AACAP 2014 project will be delivered in Wutunugurra and Canteen Creek in the Northern Territory. These new initiatives in the 2013–14 Budget will build on the Government’s existing investments.
Through NPARIH, more than 5300 homes in remote Indigenous communities have been refurbished or rebuilt against a target of 4876, significantly exceeding the refurbishment target two years ahead of schedule. The Government is also on track to meet its ambitious target of constructing 4200 new homes by 2018, having already built more than 1600. A 20 per cent Indigenous employment target on new housing construction has been set across the life of the NPARIH, and jurisdictions have consistently met or exceeded this target. Property and tenancy management reforms are also being progressively implemented in jurisdictions.
The Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory package provides a further $283.5 million over six years for two crucial elements to continue this work: $230.4 million to improve existing housing in communities $53.1 million to remove material containing asbestos, including in houses scheduled for demolition. Torres Strait Major Infrastructure Program (MIP) Stage 5The Australian Government is providing $21.2 million over four years from 2012–13 towards a range of environmental health infrastructure projects in the Torres Strait related to water supply and reticulation, sanitation and wastewater, community roads and drainage and serviced housing lots. The Australian Government expects the Queensland Government to match this funding in full to address urgent infrastructure needs in the region. Torres Strait SeawallsIn addition to the $21.2 million for the Torres Strait Major Infrastructure Program Stage 5, the Australian Government is providing $12 million for coastal protection works in the Torres Strait region, to be matched by the Queensland Government. The Australian Government’s contribution includes $5 million from Round 2 of the Regional Development Australia Fund. This funding will be used towards seawalls and other coastal management measures in the most vulnerable Torres Strait Island communities. The coastal protection works will help prevent damage caused by coastal erosion and inundation, and will assist in the protection of existing infrastructure. The project will also generate local employment opportunities. Indigenous Home Ownership programThe Indigenous Home Ownership program has allowed 294 households to buy their homes in the six-month period ending 31 December 2012. This program will assist approximately 2200 Indigenous Australians to buy their own homes in major cities, regional and remote areas over four years from July 2013. The program offers a range of concessional home loans to Indigenous households and provides priority of access and extra assistance for applicants purchasing homes on Indigenous land. Across Australia, as at 31 December 2012, there were 3985 active loans. Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory—Funding for Homelands and OutstationsUnder the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory package, outstations and homelands in the Northern Territory will benefit from a $221.4 million investment (including $15 million from the Northern Territory Government in 2012–13) to support the continuation of basic essential and municipal services over 10 years. A further $4.4 million is being invested through the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Remote Engagement and Coordination measure in the Utopia homelands to make safe homes and to implement energy efficiency and water management practices. Remote Indigenous Energy ProgramThe Remote Indigenous Energy Program (RIEP) is a $40 million initiative which is part of the Australian Government's Clean Energy Future package. The RIEP supports smaller remote Indigenous communities to transition to a clean energy future. Provision of a reliable power source will improve community health. Under, the RIEP, fit-for-purpose renewable energy systems will be designed, constructed and installed in up to 50 smaller remote Indigenous communities across South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland from 1 July 2013. The program will also maintain more than 240 existing systems in approximately 208 communities and provide employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians. Directory: sites -> default -> files -> documents -> 05 2013 documents -> In the Red and Brown Water documents -> - documents -> Cbp and Trade Automated Interface Requirements Appendix: pga december 22, 2015 documents -> Ace abi catair customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements documents -> Ace abi catair customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements documents -> Mobile audio/video recording systems documents -> The south australian government gazette documents -> All public acts appearing in this gazette are to be considered official, and obeyed as such documents -> Union interparlementaire inter-parliamentary union 05 2013 -> Families, housing, community services and indigenous affairs portfolio Download 131.5 Kb. Share with your friends:
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